The Needy Or Greedy

September 1, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 21:25-27 The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not. The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     I know you will not believe this, but did you know there are people in this world who use the church for their own personal gain? The practice has become so bad that many churches today have had to put into place policies that regulate how they help, and whom they can help when people call for assistance.

    I pastor a smaller church in a small community, and yet we sometimes get anywhere from one to four calls per month for help. During the cold winter months, we get even more. There are organizations in our community which now keep and share lists of names of people who have made it a habit of calling churches almost monthly asking for help.

    Please do not misunderstand, some who call have legitimate needs, and we have helped many of them. However, some have called asking for money for something, yet when we offer to buy that very same item for them, they’re not interested. What they really wanted was the money, and not the item or help. Often when they are asked to come to a church service and we will help them, they will not come, as they want nothing to do with God. Others have been offered work in return for pay but refused to do any work for assistance. Instead, they just call another church until they get the free handout.

    Anyone can fall on hard times. God expects us as the church to be His hands and heart toward the hurting. However, He also expects those who can do for themselves to be willing to do something. The desire to be lazy or slothful ends up being their destruction. When the church will no longer help them sit around and do nothing, they begin to condemn God. It is truly not God who failed them, but they who have failed themselves.
     

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    We ought always to do what we can for the homeless and victims of society. As my parents use to tell me, “but for the grace of God, that could very well be us.” We ought also to pray for the slothful, which are not willing to help themselves. That they will see true hope and open their hearts toward God.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  September 1, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Ezekiel 29 – 32      /   Proverbs 21:25-27

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Psa. 138-143    /   1 Co. 9

Living In His Word Ministries